Budweiser Smoke on the Water 2023

Feb 3–4, 2023 · Winter Haven, FL · 📍 2400 Havendale Blvd NW · State championship

Reps: Jeanne Titus, Mike Garretson · Prize money: $16,650

🥇

FRED VEGAS SMOKERS

700.5144 · Master Series — Overall

🥈

PIGGIN' WHISKEY

699.3600 · Master Series — Overall

🥉

Kings BBQ Team

697.6920 · Master Series — Overall

FRED VEGAS SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Budweiser Smoke on the Water on February 3, 2023 in Winter Haven, FL at 2400 Havendale Blvd NW, scoring 700.5144 in a field of 47 teams. PIGGIN' WHISKEY took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.3600. Category winners: Chicken — KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ (178.8572); Pork — Kings BBQ Team (180.0000); Brisket — HOT WACHULA'S (177.1544).

The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)

How the field scored

Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.

146.85 median 679.30 700.51 🏆

How the meats cooked

Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.

Chicken 178.86
Pork Ribs 178.86
Pork 180 🔥
Brisket 177.15

142.79 180

Entries

4 judged meats

Top score

700.5144

Winning margin

1.1544

GC over RC

Field average

663.60

146.85700.51

median 679.30 · last place to winner

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Kings BBQ Team (Pork)

Tightest race

Pork Ribs

0 pts across the top 5

Top-10 cutoff

689.6684

146.85700.51

10th place overall

Field spread

553.6684

winner to last place

Prize money

$16,650

on the line

Most consistent

FRED VEGAS SMOKERS

avg finish 10.50 across 4 meats

Double threats

teams with 2+ top-5 calls

Widest winning margin

Pork

won by 1.1428 pts — Kings BBQ Team

How hot was the win?

Top 31%

beats 69% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data

Form held

Strong

ρ = -0.62 between pre-contest rating and finish

Field strength

1,587

avg power rating going in · stronger than 69% of contests

Top-rated in the field

GETTIN' BASTED

rated 1983 pre-contest

Storylines (6 found in this contest's numbers)

Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.

A razor-thin finish

1.1544 points between champion and reserve

Closer than 79% of the 4,710 championships in the data

The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1544 points — closer than 79% of every championship in the data.

Fred Vegas Smokers
PIGGIN' WHISKEY

An upset on the books

26-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 74 times in 100

FRED VEGAS SMOKERS came in rated below the field's top team, GETTIN' BASTED, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 26-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.

champion 1802
top seed 1983

Won without a category win

2 of 4 meats called to the stage

FRED VEGAS SMOKERS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 4th. Consistency beat fireworks.

Chicken 19th
Pork Ribs 4th
Pork 5th
Brisket 14th

A knife fight at the top

3.4516 points across the top five

First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4516 points.

1st FRED VEGAS SMOKERS
2nd PIGGIN' WHISKEY
3rd Kings BBQ Team
4th HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ
5th Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q

Photo finishes

Tie closest of 21 calls decided inside half a point

Chicken places 3–4: JACK'S OLD SOUTH and GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA and Smoke Meat Every Day tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: Smoke Meat Every Day and Buckhorn Barbecue tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.

Chicken 3–4 · tie
Chicken 4–5 · tie
Chicken 5–6 · tie
Chicken 9–10 · tie

A perfect score on the table

1 perfect 180s

1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.

Kings BBQ Team · Pork

Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)

Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)

Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)

Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)

This contest over the years full contest page →

Date	Where	Venue	Teams	High score	Grand Champion	Reserve Champion
Feb 3, 2023 ← this one	Winter Haven, FL	2400 Havendale Blvd NW	47	700.5144	Fred Vegas Smokers	PIGGIN' WHISKEY
Feb 2, 2024	Winter Haven, FL	—	—	—	—	—

What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)

Category	1st	5th	10th
Chicken	178.8572	177.7028	176.5600
Pork Ribs	178.8572	178.8572	175.4172
Pork	180	176.5600	174.2628
Brisket	177.1544	175.4056	173.1200

Official results on kcbs.us ↗

Master Series

Overall

47 entries · top 700.5144 · median 679.3028

#	Team	Score
1	FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	700.5144
2	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	699.3600
3	Kings BBQ Team	697.6920
4	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	697.6572
5	Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q	697.0628
6	Poppa Pig	696.5260
7	Smoke Meat Every Day	695.3484
8	Smoke N' Ash BBQ	692.5144
9	GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ	691.9660
10	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	689.6684
11	Fergolicious BBQ	688.4916
12	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	688.4800
13	GETTIN' BASTED	687.8740
14	Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ	687.3828
15	HOT WACHULA'S	686.8000
16	Borrowed Pit	686.7656
17	ROOSTERS BULLS & BOARS	686.1828
18	GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA	685.5884
19	JACK'S OLD SOUTH	685.0168
20	Fantasy Q	684.4568
21	SWAMP BOYS	682.2288
22	WHO CARES BBQ	681.6000
23	Mad Dog BBQ	679.8512
24	KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ	679.3028
25	Going Yard BBQ	678.7656
26	Pop's Smoke on the Hill	677.6456
27	SmokinGhost BBQ	673.5772
28	Double Barrel smokers	671.3144
29	SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ	669.5772
30	RUM RUNNERS BBQ	669.5656
31	ACCUTECH BBQ	667.2684
32	Cooters N Smoke	666.6740
33	Drunkin Brothers BBQ	663.8400
34	Slapulator BBQ	662.1256
35	Uncle G's BBQ	661.0632
36	Smokin' & Pokin'	659.8972
37	The Drunken Sailor	658.7084
38	Matty B's BBQ	658.0684
39	Cold Beer BBQ	656.3888
40	Belly Bustin Bistro	653.5660
41	Bustin’ Butts BBQ of CFL	652.9832
42	George Jenkins High School - GJQ	651.3028
43	Brack Shack & Kick Yo Butt Catering	648.3312
44	K & E's Little Smokers	645.6116
45	Buckhorn Barbecue	645.0168
46	Smokin' PB& J's BBQ	602.6628
47	Uncle Buckys	146.8460

Chicken

46 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.9656

#	Team	Score
1	KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ	178.8572
2	HOT WACHULA'S	178.2972
3	JACK'S OLD SOUTH	177.7028
4	GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA	177.7028
5	Smoke Meat Every Day	177.7028
6	Buckhorn Barbecue	177.7028
7	Uncle G's BBQ	176.5944
8	Smoke N' Ash BBQ	176.5716
9	GETTIN' BASTED	176.5600
10	Fantasy Q	176.5600
11	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	176
12	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	175.4172
13	Poppa Pig	175.4172
14	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	175.4056
15	Pop's Smoke on the Hill	174.2744
16	ROOSTERS BULLS & BOARS	174.2628
17	Kings BBQ Team	173.1316
18	GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ	173.1200
19	FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	173.1200
20	Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q	173.1200
21	Bustin’ Butts BBQ of CFL	171.9772
22	Double Barrel smokers	171.9772
23	Cooters N Smoke	171.9656
24	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	171.9656
25	SWAMP BOYS	171.4172
26	WHO CARES BBQ	170.8228
27	Mad Dog BBQ	170.8228
28	Borrowed Pit	170.8112
29	Matty B's BBQ	169.6800
30	Fergolicious BBQ	169.6800
31	Slapulator BBQ	167.3712
32	Belly Bustin Bistro	166.2516
33	SmokinGhost BBQ	166.2284
34	SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ	165.6800
35	Drunkin Brothers BBQ	165.0972
36	Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ	164.5600
37	Going Yard BBQ	163.9656
38	Cold Beer BBQ	163.9544
39	ACCUTECH BBQ	163.3828
40	Brack Shack & Kick Yo Butt Catering	161.6456
41	The Drunken Sailor	159.9656
42	K & E's Little Smokers	158.2400
43	RUM RUNNERS BBQ	158.2056
44	Smokin' & Pokin'	155.9772
45	Smokin' PB& J's BBQ	155.4172
46	George Jenkins High School - GJQ	142.7884

Pork Ribs

47 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6916

#	Team	Score
1	Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ	178.8572
2	Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q	178.8572
3	Borrowed Pit	178.8572
4	FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	178.8572
5	SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ	178.8572
6	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	176.5600
7	Mad Dog BBQ	176.5600
8	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	175.4744
9	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	175.4172
10	ROOSTERS BULLS & BOARS	175.4172
11	Going Yard BBQ	174.8572
12	Poppa Pig	174.8572
13	SWAMP BOYS	174.2860
14	Smoke Meat Every Day	173.1200
15	Pop's Smoke on the Hill	173.1084
16	Fergolicious BBQ	172.5716
17	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	172.5600
18	Smoke N' Ash BBQ	172.0116
19	Kings BBQ Team	171.9888
20	Brack Shack & Kick Yo Butt Catering	171.9656
21	SmokinGhost BBQ	170.8344
22	ACCUTECH BBQ	170.2628
23	JACK'S OLD SOUTH	170.2628
24	Uncle G's BBQ	169.6916
25	Smokin' & Pokin'	169.1200
26	RUM RUNNERS BBQ	168.5600
27	GETTIN' BASTED	168.5256
28	The Drunken Sailor	167.9772
29	GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ	167.4288
30	George Jenkins High School - GJQ	167.3944
31	Belly Bustin Bistro	166.8344
32	Bustin’ Butts BBQ of CFL	166.8344
33	Double Barrel smokers	166.2628
34	KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ	166.2400
35	GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA	166.2400
36	HOT WACHULA'S	166.2400
37	Fantasy Q	165.0856
38	Matty B's BBQ	165.0856
39	Drunkin Brothers BBQ	163.9772
40	Cooters N Smoke	162.7884
41	Cold Beer BBQ	161.6572
42	WHO CARES BBQ	160.5144
43	K & E's Little Smokers	159.9772
44	Buckhorn Barbecue	158.8228
45	Slapulator BBQ	154.2400
46	Uncle Buckys	146.8460
47	Smokin' PB& J's BBQ	142.7884

Pork

46 entries · top 180 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180

#	Team	Score
1	Kings BBQ Team	180 🔥
2	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	178.8572
3	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	177.7028
4	Poppa Pig	176.5716
5	FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	176.5600
6	RUM RUNNERS BBQ	176.5600
7	Borrowed Pit	175.4172
8	WHO CARES BBQ	174.8572
9	GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ	174.8572
10	Double Barrel smokers	174.2628
11	Smoke N' Ash BBQ	174.2628
12	Going Yard BBQ	173.1200
13	K & E's Little Smokers	173.1200
14	Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ	173.1200
15	Pop's Smoke on the Hill	172.5828
16	Cold Beer BBQ	171.9772
17	GETTIN' BASTED	170.8228
18	Fergolicious BBQ	170.8228
19	JACK'S OLD SOUTH	170.8112
20	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	170.2512
21	Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q	169.6800
22	GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA	169.6800
23	Smoke Meat Every Day	169.1200
24	ROOSTERS BULLS & BOARS	169.1200
25	George Jenkins High School - GJQ	169.1200
26	SWAMP BOYS	169.1200
27	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	168.5372
28	Slapulator BBQ	167.3944
29	Cooters N Smoke	166.8228
30	Matty B's BBQ	166.2516
31	SmokinGhost BBQ	165.6916
32	Bustin’ Butts BBQ of CFL	165.6800
33	Fantasy Q	165.6684
34	HOT WACHULA'S	165.1084
35	Mad Dog BBQ	163.9428
36	Drunkin Brothers BBQ	163.9428
37	The Drunken Sailor	163.3828
38	Uncle G's BBQ	163.3828
39	Belly Bustin Bistro	163.3828
40	KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ	162.2284
41	Smokin' & Pokin'	161.6800
42	ACCUTECH BBQ	161.6456
43	Buckhorn Barbecue	158.8228
44	Brack Shack & Kick Yo Butt Catering	156.5028
45	SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ	150.7772
46	Smokin' PB& J's BBQ	143.9544

Brisket

46 entries · top 177.1544 · median 169.6742

#	Team	Score
1	HOT WACHULA'S	177.1544
2	Fantasy Q	177.1428
3	GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ	176.5600
4	Fergolicious BBQ	175.4172
5	Smoke Meat Every Day	175.4056
6	Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q	175.4056
7	WHO CARES BBQ	175.4056
8	SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ	174.2628
9	Smokin' & Pokin'	173.1200
10	Slapulator BBQ	173.1200
11	Kings BBQ Team	172.5716
12	George Jenkins High School - GJQ	172
13	ACCUTECH BBQ	171.9772
14	FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	171.9772
15	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	171.9772
16	KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ	171.9772
17	Colorado Bulldawg BBQ	171.9656
18	GETTIN' BASTED	171.9656
19	GITCHEWSUM BARBECUE - FLORIDA	171.9656
20	Heifers, Butts, & Clucks BBQ	170.8456
21	Drunkin Brothers BBQ	170.8228
22	SmokinGhost BBQ	170.8228
23	Poppa Pig	169.6800
24	Smoke N' Ash BBQ	169.6684
25	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	168.5372
26	HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	168.5372
27	Mad Dog BBQ	168.5256
28	SWAMP BOYS	167.4056
29	ROOSTERS BULLS & BOARS	167.3828
30	The Drunken Sailor	167.3828
31	Going Yard BBQ	166.8228
32	RUM RUNNERS BBQ	166.2400
33	JACK'S OLD SOUTH	166.2400
34	Cooters N Smoke	165.0972
35	Borrowed Pit	161.6800
36	Smokin' PB& J's BBQ	160.5028
37	Double Barrel smokers	158.8116
38	Cold Beer BBQ	158.8000
39	Brack Shack & Kick Yo Butt Catering	158.2172
40	Pop's Smoke on the Hill	157.6800
41	Belly Bustin Bistro	157.0972
42	Matty B's BBQ	157.0512
43	K & E's Little Smokers	154.2744
44	Uncle G's BBQ	151.3944
45	Buckhorn Barbecue	149.6684
46	Bustin’ Butts BBQ of CFL	148.4916

Budweiser Smoke on the Water 2023

The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)

How the field scored

How the meats cooked

Entries

Top score

Winning margin

Field average

Perfect 180s

Tightest race

Top-10 cutoff

Field spread

Prize money

Most consistent

Double threats

Widest winning margin

How hot was the win?

Form held

Field strength

Top-rated in the field

Storylines (6 found in this contest's numbers)

A razor-thin finish

An upset on the books

Won without a category win

A knife fight at the top

Photo finishes

A perfect score on the table

Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)

Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)

Score distribution

Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)

Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)

This contest over the years full contest page →

What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)

Official results on kcbs.us ↗

Master Series

Overall

Chicken

Pork Ribs

Pork

Brisket